EMPTY TRAIL

When the band came into creation what was the main purpose for it?
-I wanted to create my ideal rock band. It sure took a long time since I started the endeavor at 12 years of age!

How hard is it to come up with a sound that is all yours? What bits’n’pieces do you pick up from other stuff to make it your sound?
-I think it’s impossible. I don’t think anyone’s sound is all theirs. It’s always derived from influences. Everything from lyrical content, guitar tone, riffs, arrangement, vocals, has been hand picked from what our brain connects with the most! The mix of ingredients is I suppose what makes it unique!

I have no idea what kind of creative process you guys go through but how hard is it to record and release new songs?
-It’s not hard at all at this point! The process is pretty easy now. Technology makes it fairly simple to relay ideas and document them. Just writing the song, figuring out what everyone is going to play, and recording it all! I think we have been doing it for a while so we have the process dialed in!

Today technology allows you to record at home and release your music digitally. But in doing so is there a risk that you release only single songs because that is what is demanded to stay atop and therefore you end up killing the album for example?
-I think the internet’s influence of over accessibility has ruined the album. I just think since we can have anything we want when we want it, it has jaded many of us. We don’t have the patience to really sit and understand a full album unless you absolutely adore a band. So you need to grab someone’s attention and keep it as long as you can before they move on to the adorable cat video! Haha

I for one feel that the change in how people listen to music today, by downloading it and expecting to get it for free, will kill music as we know it. What kind of future is there for music?
-I sadly agree with you. The demand and excitement has been lessened because music has been made so easily accessible and essentially value less. It’s ruined the anticipation. I can listen to ANY song of ANY genre whenever I want. There’s no build-up

What kind of responses do you get to your music? What has been the thing that has gotten the most attention?
-That it’s really catchy! The band is really tight. And people really dig the voice!

We live in a world where there are no real distances between people communicating anymore. What has been the most surprising contact so far?
-Honestly ALL my contacts are surprising. I’ve created year long relationships without even meeting in person! I feel as though I personally know a lot of fans on social media who I have never met.

Does playing in a band make you feel like you are a part of a greater community? What has music brought with it that you would have otherwise missed out on?
-I definitely feel like I’m in a community. It’s like a big club with smaller groups inside. Like a school essentially.
Music has been cathartic. It was my release for many years. Without it, I don’t know where I would be. What would I LIVE for?

What is the live scene like for you in Austin? Do you feel that playing live helps building a bigger following?
-I don’t feel playing live builds a following naturally. People are a bit fickle I suppose. Hey! I am too! I get it. It’s like the same thing I said above about over accessibility. There are A LOT of bands. And the live scene is not as prevalent as I feel that it probably was? I do see some smaller scenes growing. So if you happen to be a band in the scene. The following of that grows. But as far as a specific band, I don’t really notice a linear growth. Unless you break somewhere! Than that changes the ball game!

What plans do you have for the future?
-We just finished filming a music video with director- Teresa Jolie. It’s genuinely amazing. I’m still in awe of the talented human beings the band and I have gotten to work with! Excited to release it. It will be of the title track, “Lost” from the new EP LOST which was set to release January, but with the previous stand alone single at radio right now we are pushing the release date back! Late February, maybe early March.
We are working on tours. I desperately want to get the band on the road in a big way, but it takes time to coordinate everything and to get the right doors open at the right time.